b'COMMUNITYWe Came Here in Differnt BoatsBy John Bailey Angela Cobian, Scott Baldermann, Bradley Laurvick,going to make mistakes and they are going to fall Barbara O\'Brien, as well as Deputy Superintendentsdown(fall down seven times get up eight). We need to Dwight Jones and Mark Ferrindino led our districtlet them know \'Don\'t down the person who is down B UTWEAREALLINTHESAMEBOATNOW!and kept the education of all our students, the num- today, help them in their sorrow. This old world is a In the midst of everyday life in a very confusedber one priority.funny old world, you could be down tomorrow." We modern world, I want to encourage us not to forgetTheworldourBlackstudentgraduatesgointoneed to tell them in the words of Langston Huhges those hard working high school (and college gradu- isnolongersafe,norpredictable,yetistheonlythat "life ain\'t no crystal staircase."atesaswellasthestudentsworldthey/wehave.ThisMother to Son (by Langston Hughes)whocontinuatedtothenextworldiscurrentlydefinedbyWell, son, Ill tell you:grade) students, who had theiraPresidentwhoisnotclear final 3-4 months of their cur- aboutwhatisgoodfortheLife for me aint been no crystal staircase.renteducationaljouneyandnationnorouryouth.ThereIts had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards possiblyoneofthe"greatestisahealthpandemicrunningtorn up,awakening"momentsintheirhelter-skelter around the plan- And places with no carpet on the floorBare.lives, disrupted by the COVID- et.Therearecontinuedmur- But all the time19 health pandemic and muchders, racial attacks and threats more. on black bodies. Riots, protest,Ise been a-climbin on, And reachin landins, These young people (and theircivildisobedience,infiltratedAnd turnin corners, And sometimes goin in parents)hadtotheendureademonstrationsandmultiplethe dark,completetransitionfromin- human behaviors that can getWhere there aint been no light. So boy (and personlearningtovirtualyou killed in this nation, if yougirls),dontyouturnback.Dontyouset ortele-educationandonlinehave black skin. Yes, for Blackdown on the stepslearning in a moments notice.Americans,wecamehereinCause you finds its kinder hard. Dont you Ourschools,schoolleaders,anightmarelookingforthefall nowFor Ise still goin, honey, Ise still studentsandtheirfamiliesAmerican Dream and over 400climbin,madethisremarkableeduca- years later, to some we are stillAnd life for me aint been no crystal staircase. tional transition, while the pro- property, 3/5 of a person and cesswasnotalwayeffectivegetnorespectorhumandig- Congratulations To Graduates! - andefficient.However,theirJohn Bailey nity. We have to tell our gradu-commitment to doing the rightates the truth about what theyWE NEED YOU TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER and"equitable"thingforallare getting into and the positivePLACE! DPSstudentsisnotquestioned.Everybodyhadaand progressive roles they can play in our future. Thank You To Our DPS Leadership for KEEPING role to play and as parents and grandparents of DPSWe need to tell them how proud we are of themYOUR EYES ON OUR PRIZE-OUR CHILDREN!students, I am proud of the way the district teachingand how much we LOVE them. We need to remind staff,Superintendent Susana Cordova, Board mem- them of their history and that they come from kingsNOTE: However, WE all still have plenty of work to DO on behalf of DPS bersJenniferBacon,TayAnderson,CarrieOlson,and queens. We need to let them know that they arestudents and famiies.HEALTHPurpose-Driven Health Ministry"Then Peter said, Silver and gold haveingtoreceiveadonationnomatterour bodies are the temple of God and I none, but such as I have give I thee:howsmall.Hewasdismayedatfirstweneedtocarefortheminkeeping in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazarethby what he heard as one of them said:with this text: I Corinthians 6: 19 and rise up and walk." "Silver and gold have I none-That is, I20. If we care for our bodies as if theyActs 3:6 do not have any money. But such as Ibelong to God we will be healthier and have I am going to give you."He hadnotabuseourbodies.Wecanlearn never heard anyone say such words tofrom the Scriptures how to cope with him!Then he heard a command:" Indepression and stressBy Byron E. Conner, MD the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Walk? No one hadWecanlearnsimplethingsfrom the Internet we can share with people I t is one of the most touching accountsever asked him to walk! But he tried.abouttheneedtoeatright,stop intheScriptures.ImagineamanHe got help as Peter reached down and who never in his life was able to standhelpedhimtohisfeet.Hesuddenlysmoking, control your blood pressure, up and walk. He had been unable tofelt strength in his legs and feet. A newcontrolyourdiabetesifyouhaveit. walk from birth. He was totally depen- sensationneverexperiencedbefore.control or eliminate alcohol use, and dentonfriendsorrelativestocarryHe realized for once in his life he couldcontrolsexualbehavior.Weneedto himtoaplacewherehecouldbeastand!Hisfeetandlegshadanew- understandtheneedtoseeadoctor beggar. He was at a Jewish temple. Hefound strength, agility, and mobility.whenneededanddonotjustgoin was at the gate of the temple which isbecauseyouareacutelyill.Ihave called Beautiful. He was there to begSo, what did he do? He walked, andspent many hours on hospital wards, from passersby for alms or monetaryleapedandpraisedGod.YouandIintensivecareunits,inclinics,and gifts. He was totally dependent on thewould do the same!He would nevernursing homes. I do not need for any-havedreamedthatthiswasthelastDr. Conner one to tell me that there is much pain money some might even throw his way.dayhewouldbejustabeggarsit- and sickness in this world we live in. It He was the poorest of the poor, and thetinghelplesslywatchingotherswalkphysical and spiritual maladies is sad to note that by our failure to just lowest of the low. Utterly impoverishedaround him. He could not get enoughtakecareofourselveswemaybring anddependentonthosewhowouldof walking, jumping, leaping and prais- andtheydoinfactneedhelp.Itsmuchpainandillnessonourselves. stoop to help him. Day after day he layingGod!Butafterthissignalactofjust that there seems to be too manyThis is really preventable.helpless for all to see him, and help ifhealing came a powerful and encour- who need help!they would. What else could he do? Heaging sermon as noted in Acts 3. So,Ibelieveallofuswhobelievethe could not be gainfully employed. It wasthere was not just going to be mental,WemightnothaveanymeasureScripturesneedtopracticepurpose-a miserable, and wretched way to live.and physical healing, but also spiritualofmedicaltrainingbutwecanhelpdrivenhealthministry.Thatishelp He did not ask to be in the conditionhealing as Peter preached his heart outpeoplewithholistichealing,thatispeople to be spiritually, physically, and he was in. He was doing all he couldto all who could hear him. spiritual,physical,andmentalheal- mentally whole. We can do this even if do. All he could do was call out anding. First of all, the scripture are full ofwe have no medical training as noted say something like: "Alms for the poor!" Have you seen them on the cornersinformation to help us depart from sin- above. We just need to believe we can Along comes now two men walkingofourstreetsandonfreewayexits?ful soul-destroying habits, and addic- do this and that we should do it. We together.TheydidnotlooklikerichTheyarebeggarsjustlikethemantions.Someonehassaidthereareneed to make this a subject of prayer men, but this beggar would ask any- withnonameattheGateBeautiful.over 3,000 promises in the Bible. theyand pray for those who need help and one within ear shot for alms. One ofTheyholdupsignswithwordslikeare actually a source of strength andwe all need help. We need to help as the men told him to focus his attention"Help if you can" "Anything helps, andcourage for all of us. We can hide thesemany as possible live the more abun-on them: "Look on us." The lame manGodbless!"Wemaynotknowitbutwords in our heart and get strength.dantlifeasJesuspromisedinJohn focusedhiseyesuponthem,expect- thesepeoplehaveattimesmental,We can learn from the scriptures that10:10.BODY OF CHRIST NEWS JULY 2020 15'